Kerkük Becomes Official Member of Turkish World Municipalities Union

At the Turkish World Municipalities Union (TDBB) August Management Board meeting in Karaman, chaired by Konya Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, the council voted to admit Kerkük Municipality as an official member. Altay described the decision as a historic day, noting the presence of Kerkük Governor (Vali) Muhammed Semen Ağa and saying, "Bugün aslında birliğimiz için tarihi bir gün." Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) President Abdullah Eren also attended, emphasizing that the partnership will strengthen cultural restoration and development projects. AK Party Deputy Chairman Kürşad Zorlu highlighted related economic agreements with Iraq, including a petroleum partnership in the Kerkük production field and the Ovaköy border gate and Development Road initiative, which he said will shift regional trade balances in Turkey’s favour. The admission reflects Turkey’s broader effort to integrate Turkic communities abroad and expand joint municipal and economic cooperation.